Global News

Thursday September 02, 2010

Earl's winds had weakened from 140 to 115 miles per hour by 5 p.m. Thursday, downgrading it to a Category 3 hurricane, and could ease further as it crosses cooler water before reaching the North Carolina coast. But the hurricane was still easily strong enough to cause widespread destruction, officials said.

"It's still a major hurricane. It's nothing to sneeze at," said David Feltgen of the National Hurricane Center in Miami late Thursday afternoon. "It's going to be a bad night."

The extent of the damage would depend on exactly how close Earl comes to land. Projections indicated it would pass miles from shore. But Earl could spin closer - or even hit land - triggering widespread flooding, wind destruction and beach erosion. Even if Earl remains off the coast, hurricane force winds could extend 90 miles or farther from the center. Earl is the most powerful hurricane to emerge this year and the most threatening hurricane since Hurricane Bob in 1991.

"the message today is this is a day of action," said Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate. "Conditions are going to deteriorate rapidly. Many people people will start out with clear skies, but we expect conditions along the East Coast will deteriorate. People should not be lulled into a false sense this will be steered away from them. Time will be running out for people who have not gotten ready."

Just days before the popular Labor Day weekend, thousands of tourists and some residents of North Carolina's popular barrier islands evacuated as Earl swirled toward the coastline. Businesses and home owners used sand bags and plywood to protect buildings and stocked up on supplies in preparation for the onslaught, which was expected to continue late into the night before passing Friday morning.

At the request of N.C. Gov. Beverly Purdue, President Obama declared a state of emergency for the state to enable the federal government to provide whatever assistance is necessary to minimize damage, protect citizens and clean up afterward. the governors of Maryland and Virginia have already declared states of emergency.

Earl is expected to approach the vulnerable Outer Banks on Thursday night and the Delmarva Peninsula by Friday.

Forecasters were trying to determine whether the storm would stay offshore as it headed up the Northeast coast or bring hurricane-force winds to Long Island and the new England coastal area.

A hurricane warning - which means hurricane conditions, including winds of at least 74 miles per hour, are expected within 36 hours - was issued Thursday morning for the Connecticut and Massachusetts seaboards, including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. the Canadian Hurricane Centre issued a hurricane watch for Nova Scotia.

In Ocean City, Md., a sprinkle of tourists lined the main drag Thursday as families and couples strolled toward the boardwalk with towels and beach chairs in tow. the soft breeze and clear blue sky was no indication of the rain and high winds expected to whip through the area within hours. Hurricane Earl will pass through, about 200 miles from the town's coast, beginning early Friday morning and continuing until Friday afternoon.

"It's a fast-moving storm, hopefully it'll just blow past," said town spokeswoman Donna Abbott.